STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Expressing extreme indignation against the BJP partnered Coalition Government for disparaging and ignoring the Dogra heroes bringing laurels to the entire State, Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman JKNPP, dubbed the flagrant disregard for them as a deep rooted conspiracy to erase the pristine glory of the lineage in a press conference in Jammu on Saturday.
Eulogizing the marvelous achievement of Lt. Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal hailing from Badhori, Samba for conquering Mount Everest recently before the media, Harsh revealed that he was the first army officer from J&K and third in India to scale the world’s highest peak for a third time with previous records made in May 25th, 2012 and May 19th, 2013.
Singh further disclosed that the gutsy Indian Army officer had a reputed credential under his belt for climbing the highest peaks in five continents besides been a recipient of many prestigious awards like Vashisht Seva Medal and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award (Equivalent to Arjuna Award) conferred by the President of India.
Moreover, during the massive disaster of 25th April 2015 in Nepal, the decorated officer who also enjoyed the reputation of being a ‘Trained Rescuer’ in natural calamities, stood firm at Everest base camp and helped the avalanche victims in terms of evacuation, relief and rehabilitation which earned him accolades from both the Indian and Nepalese governments.
Lambasting the State government for showing flagrant disregard for his accomplishments, Singh said that the sinister dispensation paid no heed to acknowledge the laurels brought to the State by the esteemed Army officer where as mountaineer like Bachendri Pal of Uttarakhand after summiting Mount Everest received several awards by the erstwhile UP government like Gold medal, Yash Bharti Award, Honorary Doctorate from HNBGU Garhwal, etc. Likewise, Nb. Subedar Chain Singh hailing from Doda had made a name for himself in Shooting.
Singh divulged that the shooter had won the Bronze medal in the 2014 Asian Games at Incheon in South Korea in the men’s 50 m Rifle event and won six Gold medals, three each in individual and team events in the 2016 South Asian Games at Guwahati in India besides securing his spot for the Rio Olympics to be held in Brazil this year.
While admonishing the biased silence of the State government over his marvelous feats, Singh regretted that when the Civil Service aspirant Ather Amir Ul Shafi Khan hailing from Kashmir ranked second in IAS exams, the galaxy of politicians and bureaucrats thronged his residence to congratulate him but on the contrary Dogra stars were purposely ignored and disparaged to subjugation.
Citing the prejudiced attitude of the State government towards the players of Jammu region in the arena of cricket, Harsh said that when Parvez Ghulam Rasool Zargar hailing from Kashmir was picked up in India team in 2013, he was glorified in the Valley as a hero from all the quarters including JKCA and socio-economically encouraged to the extent that he could represent India team and play in IPL seasons but on the other hand player like Surinder Singh Bagal with enormous talent was blatantly ignored and discouraged to the extent that he ended his career due to discriminatory politics.
Castigating the BJP for clandestinely allowing its ally to tow the Secessionist agenda to erase the pristine heritage of the Dogras, Harsh lampooned the Saffron party for remaining slavishly silent on the emotive issue for the loaves of power. He said that the valour tale of Brig. Rajinder Singh, the saviour of Jammu & Kashmir had lost in the oblivion whose supreme sacrifice while fighting the Kabailis had enabled the landing of Indian Army in Kashmir in October 1947 which laid the foundation for its victory against Pakistani soldiers. Likewise, Gen. Baj Singh during Maharaja Ranbir Singh’s regime proved himself to be a great administrator, shrewd diplomat and a man of wits. Mr. Singh revealed that he hailed from Badhori Samba and the erstwhile Vijaypur was named Bajpur after him. He said that under a deep rooted conspiracy to erase the Dogra identity from the place, Bajpur was renamed as Vijaypur. He further added that BJP despite its tall pronouncements made earlier could not install a statue of Maharaja Gulab Singh at Kunjwani Chowk by now denying several representations and fervent appeals from civil society.
Accusing the coalition govt. of double standards and BJP in particular, Singh called upon the Jammu based Ministers to shed off their inhibitions and assert in view of growing public resentment against their inaction, political incompetence and vulnerability. He said that BJP which was already exposed for its demagoguery and cowardly surrenders must immediately acknowledge the achievements of Dogra heroes and felicitate them with pride and honour failing which the JKNPP would resort to direct action against the criminal acquiescence of Jammu Ministers before Kashmir centric leadership.
Gagan Pratap Singh Spokesman and General Secretary Young Panthers was also present in the press conference.
